Method of operating a cableway system, and cableway system

ABSTRACT

A cableway system has a valley station and a mountain station. A supporting and conveying cable displace transport devices between the stations, and/or the system has at least one supporting cable, on which the transport devices are displaced with a conveying cable. The inclined positions of transport devices in relation to the vertical operating position are sensed by a respective sensor on the transport devices. When a first limit value for the inclined position of one of the transport devices is exceeded, a transmitter transmits a first control signal from the transport device to a receiver in one or both stations. The first control signal reduces the speed of the conveying cable. When a predetermined second limit value for the inclined position of a transport device is exceeded, a second control signal is transmitted to the receiver. The second control signal switches off the drive for the conveying cable.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. §119, of Austrian application A 496/2006, filed Mar. 23, 2006; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method of operating a cableway system with terminal stations (e.g., a valley station and a mountain station), at least one supporting and conveying cable, by way of which transport devices are moved between the stations, and/or having at least one supporting cable, on which transport devices are displaced between the stations by way of at least one conveying cable.

The invention also relates to a cableway system which can be operated using the method according to the invention.

For operating cableway systems, it is necessary to take account of the prevailing wind conditions since, otherwise, the operation may be disrupted and damage or accidents may occur. If wind speeds in the region of the cableway system exceed normal values, it is necessary to reduce the speed of the conveying cable for the transport devices from, for example, 6 m/sec to, for example, 1 m/sec. If, on the other hand, very high wind speeds occur, the operation of the cableway system has to be brought to a standstill.

The reason for these requirements is that, as wind speeds increase, the transport devices are deflected from the vertical position, as a result of which they may be slung, en route, against supports and, in the regions of the stations, against structural parts of the system, so that they may be damaged. As a result, furthermore, the transport devices can get stuck on the supports, so that the clamping grips are opened and the transport devices can drop downward. As a result, furthermore, the supporting and conveying cable may be disengaged from the supporting and guide rollers, so that the cables may jump their tracks. As a result, in addition, the passengers may be affected particularly gravely. This all may further result in damage to the transport devices, disruption to the operation of the cableway system, and even injury to the passengers. In the case of blondin systems or rope-suspended cablecars, very pronounced deflections may result in the running-gear mechanisms being derailed.

Up until now, cableway-systems have been operated, in respect of the wind conditions, such that the speed of the conveying cable is reduced in dependence on the wind conditions prevailing in the region of the relevant cableway system and, in the case of very high wind speeds, the operation of the cableway system is brought to a standstill. However, this does not take account of the fact that it is possible for particular wind conditions which likewise require the conveying speed to be reduced, or the cableway system to be shut down, to occur at individual locations of the cableway system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a cableway system and a method of operating the system which overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and which allow a cableway system to be operated such that disruption to operation, damage to the cableway system and injury to the passengers caused by unfavorable wind conditions are reliably avoided.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a method of operating a cableway system with terminal stations, a supporting and conveying cable by way of which transport devices are moved between the stations, and/or at least one supporting cable, on which the transport devices are displaced between the stations. The novel method comprises the following steps:

sensing inclined positions of respective transport devices in relation to a vertical operating position with respective sensors carried on the transport devices;

if at least one first limit value for an inclined position of one of the transport devices is exceeded, transmitting with a transmitter carried on the one transport device a first control signal to at least one receiver located in at least one of the stations, the first control signal causing a speed of the conveying cable to be reduced; and

if a predetermined second limit value for the inclined position of one of the transport devices is exceeded, transmitting with the transmitter a second control signal to the receiver, the second control signal causing a drive for the conveying cable to be switched off.

In other words, the objects of the invention are achieved in that the inclined positions of transport devices in relation to the vertical operating position are sensed by a respective sensor located on the transport devices, and in that, when at least one first limit value for the inclined position of one of the transport devices is exceeded, a transmitter provided on this transport devices transmits a first control signal to at least one receiver located in the stations, the first control signal reducing the speed of the conveying cable, and in that, when a predetermined second limit value for the inclined position of one of the transport devices is exceeded, a second control signal is transmitted to the receiver, this second control signal switching off the drive for the conveying cable.

The sensor located on the transport devices preferably senses both the deflection of the transport devices in relation to the vertical in the direction of travel and the deflection of the transport devices in relation to the vertical transversely to the direction of travel, and these measured values are transmitted to the at least one receiver located in the cableway system by means of the transmitter located on the transport devices. All the measured values emitted by the sensor are preferably transmitted to the at least one receiver. As an alternative to this, it is only those measured values emitted by the sensor which indicate deflections of the transport devices beyond one of the predetermined limit values which are transmitted to the at least one receiver.

In an exemplary embodiment, in the case of one of the transport devices being deflected through approximately 10° in relation to the vertical operating position, the speed of the conveying cable is reduced to, for example, 1 m/sec and, in the case of deflection through approximately 20°, the operation of the cableway system is brought to a standstill.

With the above and other objects in view there is also provided, in accordance with the invention, a cableway system, comprising:

terminal stations including a valley station and a mountain station, and a multiplicity of transport devices to be moved between the stations;

at least one supporting and conveying cable for moving the transport devices between the stations, and/or at least one supporting cable on which the transport devices are displaced between the stations by way of at least one conveying cable;

at least one receiver mounted to at least one of the terminal stations;

sensors mounted to at least some of the transport devices and configured to sense an inclination of respective the transport devices relative to a vertical operating position;

transmitters mounted to the at least some transport devices and configured to receive from the sensors measured values and to transmit the measured values emitted by the sensor to the at least one receiver, and causing an operation of the cableway system to be controlled in dependence on the measured values.

A cableway system for implementing this method has a valley station and a mountain station and also has at least one supporting and conveying cable, by way of which the transport devices are moved between the stations, and/or it has at least one supporting cable, on which the transport devices are displaced between the stations, the invention providing for at least some of the transport devices to be designed with a respective sensor which can sense the inclined positions of the relevant transport devices in relation to the vertical operating position, and these transport devices each being equipped with a transmitter by means of which the measured values emitted by the sensor are transmitted to at least one receiver located in the stations, as a result of which the operation of the cableway system can be controlled in dependence on these measured values.

The sensors located on transport devices can preferably sense and indicate the deflections of the transport devices in relation to the vertical both in the direction of travel and transversely to the direction of travel. Furthermore, the transport devices are preferably equipped with an electric battery and/or with a photovoltaic element. In addition, relay stations may be located on supports of the cableway system, it being possible for these relay stations to be connected via signal lines to the at least one receiver located in the cableway system. In addition, the relay stations and the receivers may be connected to one another via signal lines.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a method of operating a cableway system, and a corresponding cableway system, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a cableway system according to the invention with chairs that are coupled to a supporting and conveying cable;

FIG. 1A is a schematic illustration of the mountain station of the cableway system;

FIG. 2A is a front view of a chair of the cableway system;

FIG. 2B is a side view thereof;

FIG. 3A is a front view of a chair of the cableway system that has been deflected to a very pronounced extent in relation to the vertical operating position transversely to the supporting and conveying cable;

FIG. 3B is a side view of the chair that has been deflected to a very pronounced extent in the longitudinal direction of the supporting and conveying cable; and

FIGS. 4A and 4B show the diagram for the operation of the cableway system in dependence on the deflections of the chair from the vertical operating position thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, particularly, to FIGS. 1 and 1A thereof, the cableway system has terminal stations, namely, a valley station 1 and a mountain station 2, between which runs a supporting and conveying cable 3 that is guided over drive and deflecting pulleys in the stations 1 and 2 and is guided over supports 4 en route between the stations. The supporting and conveying cable 3 moves a multiplicity of transport devices or transporting means, here chairs 5, between the stations 1 and 2. The chairs 5 are uncoupled from the supporting and conveying cable 3 in the valley station 1 and they are guided through the station 1 at a speed which is vastly reduced in relation to that of the constantly circulating conveying cable 3. The passengers embark on (i.e., they seat themselves) the chairs 5 at the reduced speed. The chairs 5 are then accelerated and coupled to the supporting and conveying cable 3, as a result of which they are conveyed, with the passengers, to the mountain station 2. The chairs 5 are uncoupled from the supporting and conveying cable 3 in the mountain station 2, whereupon they are guided through the mountain station 2 at a speed which is significantly reduced in relation to the speed of the supporting and conveying cable 3, the passengers disembarking from the chairs at this point. The chairs 5 are then once more accelerated and subsequently coupled to the supporting and conveying cable 3, as a result of which they are moved back to the valley station 1.

Such a cableway system is known from the prior art.

A cableway system according to the invention is further designed, in the valley station 1 and in the mountain station 2, with receivers 11 and 21 and, at least on some of the supports 4, with relay stations 41. The receivers 11 and 21 are connected to one another and to the relay stations 41 via signal lines and/or by radio.

As can be seen from FIGS. 2A and 2B, the chairs 5 of the cableway system are designed with a suspension-gear bar 51, at the top end of which there are provided a running-gear mechanism 52 and a coupling assembly 53. The coupling assembly 53 can be used to couple the chairs 5 to the supporting and conveying cable 3. Articulated to the suspension-gear bar 51 is a load-bearing frame 54 which carries seats 55 and a safety bar 56 that can be pivoted in relation to the seats 55.

The design and configuration of the chairs 5 is likewise known from the prior art.

To supplement the known prior art, a respective sensor 6 is located on at least some of the chairs 5 of this cableway system. The sensor is provided, in particular, on the suspension-gear bar 51 and senses the deflections of the relevant chair 5 in relation to the vertical position in the longitudinal direction of the supporting and conveying cable 3 and transversely to the supporting and conveying cable 3. The output signals of the sensor 6 are transmitted to a transmitter 61 (which is likewise located on the chair 5, via a line 60). For supplying power to the sensor 6 and the transmitter 61, the chair 5 is further provided with a photovoltaic element 62 and/or with a battery.

The transmitters 61 located on the chairs 5 are assigned, on the one hand, the relay stations 41 located on supports 4 of the cableway system and, on the other hand, the receivers 11 and 21 located in the stations 1 and 2.

With reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, wind forces acting on the chairs 5, or also other operational conditions, may cause the chairs 5 to be deflected in-relation to their vertical operating position both transversely to the direction of the supporting and conveying cable 3 and in the direction of the supporting and conveying cable 3. It is possible for these deflections to be pronounced enough to result in the chairs 5 colliding with supports 4 or with other structural parts of the cableway system and also to cause the supporting and conveying cable 3 to become disengaged from the supporting rollers as well as other types of disruption to operation.

In the case of suspension bar cableway systems or to-and-fro system cableways, very pronounced deflections of the transport devices can derail the running-gear mechanisms from the supporting cables.

As noted above, the object of the present invention is to take measures which reliably avoid such situations. This is ensured in that the sensors 6 measure the deflections of the chairs 5 in the case of to-and-fro movements as a result of wind forces acting on the chairs 5, or on account of other operational conditions, and these measured values are transmitted to the respectively associated transmitter 61. These measured values are transmitted to the receivers 11 and 21 located in the stations 1 and 2 by the transmitter 61 either directly or via the relay stations 41. In the stations 1 and 2, these measurement results are evaluated to the effect that, as soon as a measured value received indicates that one of the chairs 5 has been deflected to such an extent that a first limit value has been exceeded, the speed of the supporting and conveying cable 3 is reduced to a significantly lower value. It is possible here to provide a plurality of first limit values, the supporting and conveying cable 3 being reduced to respectively different speeds when these limit values are exceeded. As soon as deflection takes place to the extent where a second limit value is exceeded, the operation of the cableway system is brought to a standstill.

Reference is made, in this respect, to the diagrams of FIGS. 4A and 4B, wherein these operating methods are illustrated schematically:

As long as the deflections of the chairs 5 from the vertical position transversely to the supporting and conveying cable 3 and in the longitudinal direction of the supporting and conveying cable 3 are no more than, for example, 10°, the speed of the supporting and conveying cable 3 is not changed. As soon as the deflections exceed the value of, for example, 10°, the speed of the supporting and conveying cable 3 is reduced, for example, to 1 m/sec. Furthermore, as soon as the deflections exceed the value of approximately 20°, the operation of the cableway system is brought to a standstill. If all the chairs 5 located on the cableway system are equipped with a sensor 6, the deflections of all the chairs 5 are used for controlling the operation of the cableway system. As an alternative to this, at least some of the chairs 5 of the cableway system are equipped with a respective sensor 6.

Such a set-up may be provided for any type of transport devices, that is to say both for chairs and for cablecars. The critical factor is that the speed of the conveying cable of the cableway system is controlled in dependence on the magnitudes of deflections of transport devices in relation to the vertical operating position irrespective of where these deflections occur on the cableway system.

Such a set-up may equally be provided for suspension type cableways systems wherein the transport devices are displaced (e.g., on rollers) along at least one supporting cable by way of conveying cables. 

1. A method of operating a cableway system with terminal stations, a supporting and conveying cable by way of which transport devices are moved between the stations, and/or at least one supporting cable, on which the transport devices are displaced between the stations, the method which comprises: sensing inclined positions of respective transport devices in relation to a vertical operating position with respective sensors carried on the transport devices; if at least one first limit value for an inclined position of one of the transport devices is exceeded, transmitting with a transmitter carried on the one transport device a first control signal to at least one receiver located in at least one of the stations, the first control signal causing a speed of the conveying cable to be reduced; and if a predetermined second limit value for the inclined position of one of the transport devices is exceeded, transmitting with the transmitter a second control signal to the receiver, the second control signal causing a drive for the conveying cable to be switched off.
 2. The method according to claim 1, which comprises sensing, with the sensor located on the transport devices, deflections of the transport devices relative to the vertical in a direction of travel and deflections of the transport devices transversely to the direction of travel, and transmitting the measured values to the at least one receiver located in the cableway system by way of the transmitter carried on the transport devices.
 3. The method according to claim 1, which comprises transmitting all the measured values emitted by the sensor to the at least one receiver.
 4. The method according to claim 1, which comprises transmitting to the at least one receiver substantially only those measured values emitted by the sensor which indicate deflections of the transport devices beyond one of the predetermined limit values.
 5. The method according to claim 1, which comprises, if one of the transport devices is deflected by more than approximately 10°, reducing the speed of the conveying cable, and, if one of the transport devices is deflected over approximately 20°, bringing an operation of the cableway system to a standstill.
 6. A cableway system, comprising: terminal stations including a valley station and a mountain station; at least one supporting and conveying cable for moving transport devices between said stations, and/or at least one supporting cable on which said transport devices are displaced between said stations by way of at least one conveying cable; at least one receiver mounted to at least one of said terminal stations; sensors mounted to at least some of said transport devices and configured to sense an inclination of respective said transport devices relative to a vertical operating position; transmitters mounted to said at least some transport devices and configured to receive from said sensors measured values and to transmit the measured values emitted by said sensor to said at least one receiver, and causing an operation of the cableway system to be controlled in dependence on the measured values.
 7. The cableway system according to claim 6, wherein said sensors disposed on said transport devices are configured to sense and indicate a deflections of the respective said transport devices relative to the vertical both in a direction of travel and transversely to the direction of travel.
 8. The cableway system according to claim 6, which comprises an electric battery and/or a photovoltaic element mounted to said transport devices.
 9. The cableway system according to claim 6, which comprises relay stations disposed on supports of the cableway system.
 10. The cableway system according to claim 9, wherein said relay stations and said at least one receiver are connected to one another via signal lines and/or by radio.
 11. The cableway system according to claim 6, wherein said receivers are connected to one another via signal lines. 